Chapter 8: Chapter 8- The Point System

“I’m sure you guys are tired of the undesirable reputation our school has outside, as well as inside the campus. That is why as your student council, we have taken it upon ourselves to come up with a solution to this problem,” Trace declares to the still silent crowd.

“We introduce to you, the point-system which will be implemented starting this year. It’s our way of making sure that each of us behave as becoming of our beloved patron saint and our alma mater,” she adds.

Here goes, Samier thinks.

“And if you guys are asking it in your minds, no, this year’s SSC won’t be the same SSC that’s the but of every hidden joke, or a useless bunch of idle people who aren’t worth the word supreme. And this year’s school won’t be that post-apocalyptic wasteland full of rag-tagged bunch of misfits who can’t even form a straight line.”

A post-apocalyptic wasteland full of rag-tagged bunch of misfits who can’t even form a straight line, that’s what she called the school. It’s true, really, there’s no doubt there, Samier thinks as he silently listens.

“Under my rule, the SSC will be worth something, the students will behave, the school will be someplace who’s uniform is worth wearing. By hook or by crook, by any means necessary,  I will turn this school right-side-up and fix every broken corner there is,” the scary lady adds.

Is it true? Can she really fix the school? Can she do it?

“Someday, this school will be something you can be proud of. This council will be worth something. We failed to do that this year, but someday…” someone once told Samier.

Could this lady be the one to fix the school?

Samier looks at the smiling Trace, who is now starting to explain her point system. He recalls how he felt when he first heard it.

Silence filled the room. She’s scary, Samier thinks. She’s scary, but…

He hears someone audibly sigh. He looks up to see the man named Zion stand up.

“So? You have us in your hands now. How do we go about achieving your goal?” Zion asks.

“Simple, we’ll just enforce the rules,” Trace replies.

“As if that can be done. All the previous councils already tried that,” Celestine chimes in.

“They don’t have as much hold over their council as I do, they didn’t rewrite the handbook like I did, and they don’t have half as much villainry in them as I do. Trust me, my system will work. I’ll force it to work,” Trace replies, standing up.

She opens a handbook.

“Handbook, page 97, school penalty point system. Every time a student breaks the law, they incur a point. Reach three points, they’re suspended, reach ten points, they’re expelled with a letter discouraging other partner schools form taking them in. I listed all the known rule-breaking that’s possible in a school, each ranging from point one points to three points. Not wearing a proper uniform, point one points. Vandalism, one point. Physical fights, three points. With the newly installed and heavily protected cameras all around the campus, it’ll be easy to catch the evil-doers. With the power of the handbook, the rule will be easy to implement,” Trace explains.

“That’s…that’s crazy,” Lianne says, looking dumbfounded.

You are reading story Asters at novel35.com

“It’s completely legal, approved by the school’s newly formed guidance counseling team and stakeholders. Parents also approved during the pre-enrollment meeting.” Trace replies

“How did you make that happen? I thought you were the one who wrote this handbook? How did you make people accept your crap?” Stephen speaks up.

Trace smiles some more.

“It’s not crap, it’s a logical rule. And is crap a curse word? I have to think on it. Anyway, it’s only right for the school to implement strict rules to induce compliance. And we’re a private school, a catholic one at that. We’re expected to have stricter laws. Plus, suspension and expulsion are a thing, you know. No one just knew how to use them. And no matter who you are, every student, to some degree, is scared of suspension and expulsion. I just made the rules clearer and easier to implement. See? Not so tyrannical at all, right?”

“The whole studentry is gonna hate you,” little Austin says, trembling. “And us,” he adds. “They’re gonna hate us for being in the council.

“Them hating us means they’re still gonna follow the rules. And they can’t openly express their hate because of the authority we will establish as the main body who will implement the new rules. They’d be too scared of incurring a point. Plus, I don’t mind people hating me. And what are you guys more afraid of, hatred that can’t be expressed, or my very real hold over your future?” Trace says, still smiling, this time, her smile is more of a smirk.

“And that is our school’s new point system. As the leading student body, the SSC will be in charge of implementing this new rule, supported by the class officers and the faculty of the school. We have a centralized system for tallying the scores, so it would be easy to record them. There is no need to worry, this year we have an excellent group of guidance counsellors to help you better understand any psychological reason behind your misbehaviors. And that is our new penalty point system,” Trace concludes her presentation.

Silence, as more than a thousand pairs of eyes stare back at her.

And then uproar, as each and every student scream at her, throwing more trash and cursing at her.

“Fuck you! That’s bullshit!” one voice audibly says.

Trace still just smiles. She once again raises her other microphone, making the two objects face each other, resulting in that ear-piercing sound.

“Littering, 0.2 points. Foul language, 0.3 point. And of course there was that bullying of the hard-working SSC officers earlier, one point. I guess everyone here is already 1.5 points and counting. We’ll be sure to record your progress diligently. Remember, three points and you’re suspended, ten points and you’re expelled with a letter of discouragement to other school,” Trace says with a wide smile.

More silence, this time filled with shock and a tinge of fear. Everyone here is slowly realizing that she means what she’s saying.

“As the SSC president, I highly encourage each and every student to embody the core values of our patron saint and be as disciplined as possible. Only that way can we all grow together as a school. We in the SSC take it upon ourselves to make sure that these rules are implemented, so that we may renew the image of our dear alma mater,” Trace finishes.

Everyone is still so quiet.

They’re listening to her, Samier thinks as he looks at the crowd. She managed to force them to stay silent and listen.

President Brandon… Maybe, just maybe, she may be the one to fix the school after all.

At that moment, as the crowd listened silently, Samier made up his mind. I too can make a difference, he thinks. I will make a difference this year.

You can find story with these keywords: Asters, Read Asters, Asters novel, Asters book, Asters story, Asters full, Asters Latest Chapter